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内在 (nèi zài) — inner, internal, intrinsic

Definition

Adjective meaning 'inner, internal' (qualities, logic, world) — contrasts with 外在 ('external, extrinsic'). For innate traits you can also meet 先天, but 内在 emphasizes what lies within a thing's structure rather than being present from birth.

adjective
innerinternalintrinsic
Easily confused

Examples

  • 内在。
    Yí gè rén de nèi zài pǐn zhì bǐ wài biǎo gèng zhòng yào.
    A person's inner qualities are more important than their appearance.
  • 内在。
    Zhè ge lǐ lùn yǒu nèi zài de luó ji máo dùn.
    This theory has an internal logical contradiction.
  • 内在。
    Tā tōng guò míng xiǎng tàn suǒ zì jǐ de nèi zài shì jiè.
    She explores her inner world through meditation.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

内nèiinside
在zàilocated

"内" points inside and "在" indicates location, meaning something existing within.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 入入rùto enter
  • 冂冂jiōnghouse

The shape shows 入 entering into 冂, a house, so it pictures bringing something indoors, giving the sense inside.

Open 内 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts

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